Essays

15th August, once again, the national flag is hoisted at countless official and formal events all over the country. Indian citizens are also allowed to fly the Tricolour on rooftops and courtyards all over India. It is a symbol of our nationhood.

Our national flag can once again become a beacon for ordinary people, especially the youth and children. The three colours of the flag—saffron, white and green— represent three pan—Indian values. And it is those values that will stand the test of time for the country, the nation and its people.

Saffron has a special cultural context in India. It is the colour of intellectual search by the sages of yore and of the Buddha and his renunciation and the Middle Path. Thus saffron represents sacrifice and passion. Nation— building in its essence requires passion and sacrifice. The concept of a common goal beyond individual vanities requires commitment.

There is erosion of public values and the growth of hydra-headed market forces that willy nilly unleash new rules in a materialistic world.

Today, the idea of sacrificing narrow personal gains in favour of the larger good is unfashionable. But the Indian classical arts down the ages enshrine this concept of sacrifice. Artistes are aware that they do not exist for themselves but for their art. It is an extremely noble sacrifice, worthy of the highest consideration. We need to bring that junoon into other realms of national life. The saffron on the Tricolour beckons us to reinstate this missing value in our public and personal lives.

White represents peace. The past decade has seen the erosion of peace in our country. Communities, religions, castes and creeds, and our neighbours are more than willing to tear apart the fabric of peace for their own agendas. Great insecurities are being created in society, Lack of peace affects peace profoundly. The performing and fine arts suffer next.

There can be no creativity without peace. Peace and harmony are intrinsic to enlightened democracy.

 Discourse without discord needs to be built into our system. We need to abondon absolute and polarized values and encourage the culture of tolerance which reflects our nation's plurality and diversity.

The green in the Tricolour represents progress and growth. Almost all our social and economic ills can be related to poverty and deprivation. Development, growth and progress are key partners to peace and sacrifice. Unless there is sustainable, trickle-down or bottom-up, growth, there can be no stability.

Artistes have a vested interest in growth. It is only when the economy grows that the arts and performance get their sustenance. Prosperity has many benefits; arts and craft is an important beneficiary.

Can we not invest our national flag with multiple meanings that emcomposes both national pride and an enlightened manifesto for a better future?

Do You Know?

1. Madam Bhikaji Cama was the first Indian to hoist the Indian flag on a foreign soil.

2. Until recently (2002), it was not allowed to general public to hoist the tricolour on their private premises, but it has now been allowed likewise.